William webster watts



Y i I m mantel I $51311 filth cum (No Model.)

v W. W. WATTS.

SHOE HOLDING DB VICE.

No. 417,464, PatentedDeml'], 1889-.

l/qhbnaodeo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

\VILLIAM VEBSTER WATTS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

SHOE HOLDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,454, dated December 17, 1889.- Application filed April 5, 1889- Serial No. 306,118. (No model.) Patented in England April 2'7, 1888, No. 6 ,281.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, WILLIAM WEBSTER \VATTS, manufacturer, of Birmingham, England, a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Apparatus for Holding Boots or Shoes while being Cleaned and for Treeing and Stretching Same, (for which I have obtained provisional protection in England, dated April 27, 1888, No. 6,231;) and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to an improved apparatus for holding boots or shoes while being cleaned and polished, and also for treeing and stretching same, and is an improvement on Letters Patent of the United States of America granted to me for a device for holding boots or shoes, dated November 29, 1887, and numbered 374,023, the present invention being designed to further facilitate the operation of cleaning, polishing, or dressing, while at the same time it can be used for treeing and stretching boots or shoes when distorted or otherwise misshapen by the effect of wear, damp, or ill-usage.

The nature, construction, and operation of my invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings. I

Figure 1 represents the apparatus per se'; Fig. 2, the apparatus mounted on a suitable bench or stool, and showing a boot in position for cleaning, polishing, treeing, or stretching; and Fig. 3 is a detail view, hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they occur.

A is a base-plate provided with a web for the purpose of being screwed down to a table or shelf, as may be found convenient. The vertical arm I) is provided with a curved slot 0, in which moves a stud or pin 0', projecting from the lever-handle d, which latter works on the pivot e. To this handle is pivoted a tongue f, the free end of which carries a saddle g, capable of accommodating itself to the inside of different-sized boots or shoes.

point p of the platform.

h is a pawl gearing in the ratchet h, so that when thelever-handle is drawn forward to effect the necessary pressure of the tongue toward the toe of the boot or'shoe the pawl prevents its return until released. Instead of the pawl and ratchet as thus described, the handle-pin 0 may be formed so as to constitute a thumb screw and nut, whereby the handle can be held in any required position in the slot.

A platform i rises from the base-plate on which the boot or shoe is placed. This platform is slightly concave on its upper surface, so as to present clearly-defined longitudinal edges, whereby additional grip is afiorded and lateral movement of the boot or shoe prevented While being operated upon. It is also provided at the heel with sharp claws p, which engage with the heel of the boot or shoe, as hereinafter described. In order to keep the tongue f slightly raised from the platform, (when not in use,) a spring Z is fixed to the vertical arm and bears against the tongue, so that the latter is always in a position of readiness to receive aboot or shoe or a spiral spring m may be used instead of that just described.

For portability the vertical arm I) may be made detachable from the base-plate by means of a dovetailed joint, as shown in Fig. 3.

' The action of the invention-is briefly as fol.- lows: Having inserted the tongue f in the boot or shoe, the latter is placed on the platform 21, with the front of the heel against the The handle dis then drawn forward, which causes the tongue to travel toward the toe of the boot or shoe, carrying same forward and causing the heel to press tightly against the platform-points 19. When the pressure necessary to grip firmly the boot or shoe is thus effected, the pawl en= gages in the ratchet and prevents the return of the handle and tongue.

The apparatus as thus constructed may be mounted on a suitable stool or bench, as shown in Fig. 2; or it may be attached to a table or shelf, as found convenient.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein specified and illustrated, as the same may be varied Without departing from the principle of my invention; but

Vhat I claim is- 1. The device for cleaning, polishing, treeing, stretching, or holding boots or shoes, the apparatus consisting of a base-plate A, vertical arm I), and tongue f, in combination with the platform 5, and heel-abutment point or points 1), and mechanism for forcibly separating the parts f and 19, whereby a boot or shoe is held firmly by the administration of pressure inside toward the toe end and contact or pressure at the heel end, substantially in the manner described.

2. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with the base-plate having point p and vertical arm provided With curved slot, of the lever (I, having a stud working in said slot, the platform, the tongue pivoted at one end to the said lever, and the saddle g, carried by the free end of the tongue, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with the base-plate having point p and provided with a vertical arm having curved slot, of the lever d, having a stud Working in said slot, the platform, the tongue pivoted at one end to the lever, the saddle g on the free end of the tongue, and the spring connecting the lever with the tongue, substantially as shown and described.

Dated this 30th day of January, 1889.

\VILLIAM WEBSTER \VATTS.

Vi tnesses:

ALBERT NEWEY, FREDERICK BAXTER. 

